FEATURE: Lauren Pattison – A Look Back At 2017

The comedian talks us through her year

By NARC.
on Thursday, December 14th, 2017

2017 has been a rather interesting year. We’ve been lucky enough to fill our pages with some incredible creative talent, so we asked a few of them to share some thoughts on the year just gone. We caught up with stand-up comedian and actress Lauren Pattison, to take a little look back through the highs and lows of her year…

So, how was your 2017?
My 2017 has been a game of two halves. The first 6 months were a bit of a struggle – I was stressed, exhausted, miserable, juggling a job I hated and being terrified that comedy wasn’t going to work out. I honestly thought I was gonna have to give up and get a real job or go back to uni! Whereas the last 6 months have been like the rainbow after a storm – I couldn’t be happier. I went full time with comedy, I’m getting so many opportunities and I wrote a debut show to be proud of. I’m getting to travel the world with my job – I’ve been to India, Turkey & Norway all in the last 6 or 8 weeks! It’s been a lot of hard work which is slowly but surely starting to pay off and the career I’ve tried so hard to carve out is beginning to take on a nice shape,

What was your best moment?
Getting nominated for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe with my debut show Lady Muck. It’s such a prestigious thing to be nominated for, and to be just a normal working class girl from Newcastle getting recognised for something so huge, I was thrilled. To be honest the whole Edinburgh festival this year could easily be squashed down collectively into my best moment. A critically acclaimed, sell out show with extra shows added due to a level of demand nobody anticipated that was one of the best reviewed shows of the month – it was an absolute dream month. I kicked that festival in the dick and I’m bloody proud of it.

And your worst moment?
The worst moment is every time I have been on the Quiet Coach of the train and some nugget has been flagrantly disregarding the rules.

Your favourite band of the year?
I saw Mumford & Sons at Latitude Festival and I was hammered and with my best friend and I’d just played the comedy stage in front of thousands of people and everything about that moment felt so perfect and so special. They’re one of her favourite bands and to share that moment with her was amazing. So I think for that reason and giving me that memory I’ll hold on to forever, I have to say them.

Your favourite song of the year?
Little Mix Shout Out To My Ex has been a bit of an anthem for me this year. Weirdly I hated pop groups and girl bands when I was the target age but I bloody love Little Mix now. GET LITTLE MIX IN TO PARLIAMENT. That song is such a banger and I ended my show to it everyday in Edinburgh. It makes me feel like the sassy little queeeeen we all know I am.

Favourite TV of the year?
RuPaul’s Drag Race. This will be my answer for the every year to come until they create a hybrid show that combines Drag Race and Bake Off.

Your favourite film?
Paddington 2. So bloody joyous. For a couple of hours I forgot the world is bloody mental and just got lost in the lovely, charming tale of a bear being sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

Favourite venue of the year?
Alphabetti in Newcastle. Their new venue is incredible and I think it’s especially perfect for comedy. I can’t wait to bring more shows here and I sincerely hope Alphabetti goes from strength to strength. The passion that’s gone into creating that space and the respect it shows for its performers is just how every venue should be ran

What was your favourite gig of the year?
There’s a few! I got to play the main comedy stage at Latitude Festival this year in front of thousands of people with my best friend in the world in the crowd. It was a real moment of seeing progression happen for me, I did a 5 minute spot on that stage 2 years ago as part of a competition, then was invited back to the cabaret tent the following year on my own merit. This year I got bumped up the the big girl stage and it was amazing! I was after Nish Kumar and before Chris Ramsey which was unreal. Also Supporting Katherine Ryan at The Lowry in Salford. It was one of those perfect gigs where everything lands and I was in such a lovely venue, sold out, supporting my idol – I couldn’t have asked for it to go better. Very hot on its heels though was doing my solo show at Alphabetti in its new venue. That place is a real hidden gem in newcastle and it was a genuine pleasure to sell it out. I was overwhelmed by the crowd and that night felt like something special indeed

What gifts are on your letter to Santa this year?
I’ve got some amazing glittery Doc Martens which I’ve already christened. I haven’t really asked for much to be honest! I’ve mainly hinted for money to go towards some of next years adventures I’ve got planned. I really love surprises so hopefully I’ll get some of those. And gin. You can never go wrong with gin. Edinburgh Rhubarb Gin with some lemonade OR – here’s a curve ball – fizzy apple – is just amazing.

And finally, what has 2018 got in store for you?
Bloody loads! There’s some really exciting things that I’m legit not allowed to tell you so you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled for those. But things I can tell you are I’ve got a 6 night run of my show at Soho Theatre in London which I’m over the moon about. I’ve always got one final performance in Newcastle at The Stand and I’d love to pack it out to send off Lady Muck in style. I’ll be spending a lot of time on the other side of the world in Australia doing the comedy festivals which has been a dream of mine. I’ll also be returning to Edinburgh with a second show which fills me with excitement and terror. And loads of other bits and bobs that I can’t wait for – but like I said, you’ll have to keep your eye out. One thing is for definite, I won’t have to go back to having a day job next year and that in itself is a huge goal ticked off!